wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > SB 5762 > Original Bill
The legislature finds that the state has made significant progress in establishing and implementing the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, creating greater access to crisis services for individuals and their families in need. The legislature further finds that an improved crisis response system reduces reliance on emergency room services and the use of law enforcement response to behavioral health crises and helps to stabilize individuals in the community whenever possible. To accomplish effective crisis response and suicide prevention, Washington state must continue its integrated approach to address mental health and substance use disorder and continue its progress toward implementing the 988 suicide and crisis lifelines and crisis systems in the country. The legislature finds it is critical to provide funding to enable greater access to crisis care services and supports.
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A statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line tax is imposed on the use of all radio access lines:
By subscribers whose place of primary use is located within the state in the amount set forth in (a)(ii) of this subsection (1) per month for each radio access line. The tax must be uniform for each radio access line under this subsection (1); and
By consumers whose retail transaction occurs within the state in the amount set forth in this subsection (1)(a)(ii) per retail transaction. The amount of tax must be uniform for each retail transaction under this subsection (1) and is as follows:
(A) Beginning October 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022, the tax rate is 24 cents for each radio access line;
(B) Beginning January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, the tax rate is 40 cents for each radio access line;
(C) Beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the tax rate is 60 cents for each radio access line; and
(D) Beginning July 1, 2027, the tax rate is 80 cents for each radio access line.
b. The tax imposed under this subsection (1) must be remitted to the department by radio communications service companies, including those companies that resell radio access lines, and sellers of prepaid wireless telecommunications service, on a tax return provided by the department. Tax proceeds must be deposited by the treasurer into the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line account created in RCW 82.86.050.
c. For the purposes of this subsection (1), the retail transaction is deemed to occur at the location where the transaction is sourced under RCW 82.32.520(3)(c).
A statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line tax is imposed on all interconnected voice over internet protocol service lines in the state. The amount of tax must be uniform for each line and must be levied on no more than the number of voice over internet protocol service lines on an account that is capable of simultaneous unrestricted outward calling to the public switched telephone network. The tax imposed under this subsection (2) must be remitted to the department by interconnected voice over internet protocol service companies on a tax return provided by the department. The amount of tax for each interconnected voice over internet protocol service line whose place of primary use is located in the state is as follows:
Beginning October 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022, the tax rate is 24 cents for an interconnected voice over internet protocol service line;
Beginning January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, the tax rate is 40 cents for an interconnected voice over internet protocol service line;
Beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the tax rate is 60 cents for an interconnected voice over internet protocol service line; and
Beginning July 1, 2027, the tax rate is 80 cents for an interconnected voice over internet protocol service line.
A statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line tax is imposed on all switched access lines in the state. The amount of tax must be uniform for each line and must be levied on no more than the number of switched access lines on an account that is capable of simultaneous unrestricted outward calling to the public switched telephone network. The tax imposed under this subsection (3) must be remitted to the department by local exchange companies on a tax return provided by the department. The amount of tax for each switched access line whose place of primary use is located in the state is as follows:
Beginning October 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022, the tax rate is 24 cents for each switched access line;
Beginning January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, the tax rate is 40 cents for each switched access line;
Beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the tax rate is 60 cents for each switched access line; and
Beginning July 1, 2027, the tax rate is 80 cents for each switched access line.
Tax proceeds collected pursuant to this section must be deposited by the treasurer into the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line account created in RCW 82.86.050.
The statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line tax imposed pursuant to this chapter must be deposited into the account. Moneys may only be spent after appropriation.
Expenditures from the account may only be used for:
Ensuring the efficient and effective routing of calls made to the 988 crisis hotline to an appropriate crisis hotline center or designated 988 contact hub. Expenditures from the account must be prioritized to fully fund the operation of 988 crisis hotline centers and designated 988 contact hubs to achieve an in-state call response rate specified in RCW 71.24.890; and
Personnel and the provision of acute behavioral health, crisis outreach, and crisis stabilization services, as defined in RCW 71.24.025, by directly responding to the 988 crisis hotline and enhancing mobile crisis service standards and performance provided through mobile rapid response crisis teams and community-based crisis teams endorsed under RCW 71.24.903. Ten percent of the annual receipts from the tax must be dedicated to the establishment grants, performance payments, and supplemental performance payments for mobile rapid response crisis teams and community-based crisis teams endorsed under RCW 71.24.903 and endorsement activities in RCW 71.24.903, up to 30 percent of which is dedicated to mobile rapid response crisis teams and community-based crisis teams endorsed under RCW 71.24.903 that are affiliated with a tribe in Washington.
Moneys in the account may not be used to supplant general fund appropriations for behavioral health services or for medicaid covered services to individuals enrolled in the medicaid program.